title: Reduced-risk drinking as a viable treatment goal in problematic alcohol use and alcohol dependence.
abstract: This review describes and discusses studies related to reduced-risk drinking as an additional treatment option for patients with problematic alcohol use and alcohol dependence. The review provides some empirical support for the following statements: (a) reduced-risk drinking is a viable option for at least some problem and dependent drinkers; (b) abstinence and non-abstinence-based treatments appear to be equally effective; (c) allowing patients to choose their treatment goal increases the success rate. The relatively short follow-up period (1-2 years) of the studies hampers a proper evaluation of the added value of the reduced-risk drinking approach.
authors.affiliation: 1Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Amsterdam
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van den Brink
mesh_terms: D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alcohol dependence; abstinence; alcohol disorder; controlled drinking; reduced-risk drinking